Wednesday, December 10, 2014

Myth, Fiction, and the Power of Story by Diana Flegal

The Red Tent miniseries
premiered this week, December 7th, on television. The novel by Anita Diamant, was published in 1997 by Wyatt Books for St. Martin's
Press. It is a first-person narrative that tells the story of Dinah, daughter
of Jacob and sister of Joseph. With stellar bestseller status, this story
obviously resonated with women.

While I am sure
there is varying degrees of criticism from theologians, I remind you, it is a
work of fiction. Wikipedia noted that the author knows of no record of a Red
Tent being used by the Israelites, but that other pre-cultural groups did use
one for the designated purpose imagined by the author.

To me the beauty
and strength of the book, and therefore its success, was in showing the
fellowship of women at its best, and the true devoted heart of a mother.

Between the
first part and the second, I reread the account in Genesis 32 on up to Joseph’s
reign in Egypt as Visor. Then I tuned-in the next evening for the second part. I
found it extremely moving.

The following
morning I continued my devotional reading of Waking the Dead by John Eldredge and

was struck fresh with the truth
therein after viewing such a strong drama the two nights before.

John believes
Jesus told parables to illustrate eternal truths because unlike mere facts,
stories penetrate our hearts and get past our intellectual defenses. And the
best stories of all? The ones that bring us eternal truths. John quotes Rolland
Hein as he defines myth; “…stories that which confront us with something
transcendent and eternal…a means by which the eternal expresses itself in time”.

Like in The Red Tent. Though definitely fiction;
the greed, lust and selfish desires of the human condition were portrayed
truthfully. Ugly as it was. And we just like the Israelites, can forget
ourselves and live in our flesh if we get complacent and forget who we belong
to.

But John
Eldridge points out the most urgent quality to every myth or big story is the
struggle, quest or battle usually underway.

John points this all out so beautifully on page 34 “The story of your life is the story of a long and brutal assault on your heart by the one who knows what you could be and fears it, …”like Narnia in winter and the sleeping kingdom in Sleeping Beauty, “the world lies under the power of the evil one” 1 John 5:19” page

Think; Lord of
the Rings, The Matrix, and Star Wars.

Ephesians
5:14-16 “Wake up oh sleeper…be very careful, then, how you live…because the
days are evil”.

Eldredge says, Things are not
as they seem, we are a people at war, and…

we have a role to play.

Doesn’t your
heart whisper to you while watching the wee Hobbit that you might have a greater
role to play in the larger scheme of things?

On Page 34
Waking the Dead, John tells us,“When Sam
Gamgee wonders out loud, “I wonder what
sort of tale we’ve fallen into?” his question assumes there is a larger story
going on.”

John opens his
book with one of my favorite quotes by Saint Irenaes, The glory of God is man fully
alive.

That is what my
heart longs for. And it is what John Eldredge said is needed for the church
today. To awaken to the fact things are not as they seem, we are a people at
war, and we have a role to play.

For those of
you who love story, and long to be fully engaged in the work God has for you, I
highly recommend this book.

Have you ever allowed someone to rob you of your purpose in life like Dinah had in The Red Tent ? Or felt the whisper of a vision that you have a great role yet to play in life?

5 comments:

What an encouraging post, Diana. I've read Waking the Dead twice, and taught a course about it once - incredibly moving at each encounter. Oh, the power of story that we write, and the power of story that we live, sometimes without realizing it.

Psalm 20: ...May [the Lord] grant you according to your heart's desire and fulfill all your purpose. We will rejoice in your salvation and in the name of our God we will set up our banners! May the LORD fulfill all your petitions... Some trust in chariots, and some in horses; But we will remember the name of the LORD our God.

MEET THE HARTLINE AGENTS

Joyce Hart, Owner and principal agent

Joyce Hart, owner and principal agent of Hartline Literary Agency has been a literary agent for more than a decade. She was formerly the vice president of marketing of an inspirational publishing company and as the president of Hartline Marketing has nearly thirty-two years of successful experience marketing and promoting books. Joyce has been a pioneer in selling high-quality fiction to the inspirational market and has built an excellent rapport with leading inspirational publishers. A member of ACFW, and the National Association of Professional Women, Joyce is a graduate of Open Bible College, Des Moines, IA now merged with Eugene Bible College in Eugene, Oregon. Joyce is based at Hartline Literary's Pittsburgh headquarters.

Diana Flegal, Agent

Diana currently lives in Asheville NC. A Bible College major in Missions and Anthropology, Diana has been a medical missionary to Haiti, a women's speaker and bible study leader. One of her life's highlights has been teaching apologetics to high school students as preparatory for college. Avid reader and intuitive editor, Diana's represents nonfiction and well written fiction. She has a passion for getting great writers published.

Jim Hart, Agent

Jim Hart is looking for authors who can write unique and engaging fictional suspense, romance, women’s fiction, historical fiction and some sci-fi. Jim is also interested in non-fiction regarding church growth, Christian living, and self-help. Keep in mind that non-fiction topics require a certain level of credentials, experience and expertise. The author will need an appropriate platform to present a non-fiction proposal.

Currently Jim is not looking at children’s, young adult or Biblical fiction proposals.

He holds a degree in Production Journalism and worked for twenty years in direct mail advertising before taking a job with an urban social services agency, where he worked for twelve years. All during his professional career, Jim has served with the local church doing youth ministry and music/worship ministry. He is a credentialed minister with the Assemblies of God, and serves part-time as Worship Pastor in his local church in Southwestern Pennsylvania.

Linda Glaz, Agent

Linda is an experienced editor, reviewer and writer, and for a couple of years was a final reader for Wild Rose Press, then for White Rose Publishing and she worked as an editorial assistant for Hartline Agent Terry Burns. She has judged for numerous contests including the Genesis for the American Christian Fiction Writers, as well as the Emily Award for the West Houston Chapter of the Romance Writers of America. She has been on the faculty for Faithwriters.com annual conference, Maranatha, and is slated for numerous others in 2013. Linda understands writers because she's a writer herself with 4 books releasing in 2013.linda@hartlineliterary.comhttp://lindaglaz.blogspot.com/

Andy Scheer, Agent

Andy has a wealth of experience as a publishing professional with over 18 years as the managing editor of Moody Magazine, 8 years as the managing editor for the Christian Writer’s Guild, and as a free-lance writer and editor. He is a frequent instructor at writing conferences around the country. A journalism graduate from Colorado State University, he also attended Denver Seminary. Andy is a consummate professional and will be a great addition to the Hartline team.